Workstyle change effects on physical activity and health consciousness in Japan: Results from COVID-19 lifestyle activity survey

The importance of daily trips as the daily general physical activity (PA) generator has been attracting more attention than ever. Workers had been obtaining certain amount of PA by commuting; however, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought a rapid spread of teleworking, which may lead to a loss of PA. To analyze the effect of workstyle change on the PA amounts, we assessed diary data from three time points in Japan: Before, During, and After the first lockdown in April 2020. Participants (n = 4,484) were divided according to workstyle change patterns. Their PA amounts were calculated by associating metabolic equivalent (MET) values with their diary data. Purposes of the trips were considered to distinguish the pure workstyle change effect and the lockdown effect. Workers’ health consciousness was also examined from a questionnaire survey. Results revealed that telework drastically reduces PA associated with daily trips for any transport mode. Teleworkers tend to make more non-commuting trips than commuters, but the PA amount associated with total daily trips is higher for commuters. Young workers who newly started teleworking during the pandemic significantly reduced PA. Women teleworkers tend to have less PA amount than men during the lockdown. Workers who had been teleworking since before the COVID-19 pandemic had the lowest consciousness about the health effects of daily trip reduction. Continuous and courteous support aimed at maintaining a certain amount of PA with daily trips and exercise habits might be a key measure to safeguard worker health, especially for the young teleworkers in a long-term.